Mosquitoes. The bane of my (outdoor) existence!
Now if some commercially funded "researchers" can do this for mosquitoes, why the hell hasn't it be scaled up for, say, terrorists?
Heh. I was preparing a crack of that sort.
But currently I'd say there isn't a way to identify mental intentions with any sort of automated targeting system.
This will, however definitely be scaled up in the future for large line defenses.
I imagine a good way of going about that route, no matter what the type of target it was specifically looking for, it would not target any objects bearing what in my mind would be like an RFID.
Would be useful for border defenses, have the system designed to lock onto any viable targets lacking identification. Of course, leave gaps for controlled entry and exit, of which have humans performing security at this points. Forces all traffic, regardless of type, into completely controlled avenues of approach.
This could be airborne defense as well, and, my favorite dream, perimeter shields in space.
As for terrorists, I think it's just plain impossible. I reckon you may have been joking, but for the sake of the topic I'll explain why I say that.
Humans have no differentiating physical features that remote targeting systems could identify. What if in a certain area there are not only large numbers of terrorists hiding, but also civilians who live there? All look the same to a computer.
The next logical idea is to see if weapons, munitions, or explosives could be identified on persons. Problem there too: people all over the middle east legally have weapons, it's their culture.
What I find a logical progression to this technology would also incorporate the chemical laser that has been in development for awhile that has the capability to take out just about any vehicle. Not sure how much the latency would be, or at least how long the laser has to be on target to destroy something like a tank or an incoming rocket, and how many shots it could fire in a few seconds. But think of this kind of system on naval vessels! The Interceptor system is the same concept but uses physical weapons to destroy incoming missiles and bombs, rather than laser. Laser would likely be far cheaper if the system had to be put to heavy use over time.
And in general, would be a great portable defense network. I imagine them packing it up, towing it like a towed howitzer, and serving as a mobile rocket shield for a unit on the move.
Most of the war uses for which this technology would serve useful, would basically be all out State-on-State war, not urban/guerrilla warfare.
Most of all, dammit I want my Advanced RFID Token ident system for permitted transit around space battle stations! Would be so damn cool.
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